Reconstruction and the Start of the Jim Crow Era

The North will try but ultimately ____ at Reconstruction.

Fail

Define: Poll Taxes

Fees to vote

Plessy argues that JC laws violate the 14th amendment. What were his arguments?

First Argument: "No state shall...abridge the privileges...of citizens" Second Argument: He is being deprived of liberty without due process Third Argument: He is being deprived equal protection of the laws

Civil War Ends

1865

Around when was Reconstruction from?

1865ish - 1877ish

When was the Supreme Court case of Plessy v. Ferguson?

1896 (1900ish)

How many Reconstruction Amendments were added to the US constitution and which were they? Why were they added?

3 new amendments: 13th, 14th, 15th. They were the North's early attempts to win peace.

What was the 13th Amendment supposed to do?

Abolishes slavery

Why is Reconstruction successful at first?

Because the North enforces Reconstruction.

1876 Election: Democrat Candidate, Republican Candidate

D - Tilden, R - Hayes

Who won the 1876 election?

Hayes

In 1896 the Supreme Court ruled that segregation was constitutional, but in 1954 the Supreme Court ruled that segregation is unconstitutional. How can something that was constitutional and perfectly legal in 1896 become unconstitutional and entirely illegal sixty years later? What explains this change?

In 1896 the Supreme Court says that this doesn't violate his protection of the laws as well as property. They said that they cant control social equality as long as they are both getting equal things. In 1954 the Supreme Court explains, "Segregation of white and Negro children in the public schools ... solely on the basis of race ... denies to Negro children the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment—even though the physical facilities ... may be equal." The first ruling is talking about property, such as train cars. In the second ruling, they are talking about children and how for their entire lives they will feel inferior to white people.

Why do you think that the Supreme Court played such a large role in affecting segregation? What is it about the Supreme Court that makes its decisions so meaningful?

In Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court said that the Jim Crow laws as well as segregation were legal. 60 years later, they then ruled that segregation was no longer legal, making Jim Crow laws also illegal. The Supreme Court is the most powerful court in the US which makes their decisions also powerful. The only people who can reverse the Supreme Court's decision, is the Supreme Court.

Define: Literacy Tests

Intelligent tests

What was the 15th Amendment supposed to do?

Intended to grant voting rights to male freed slaves

What was the 14th Amendment supposed to do?

Intended to guarantee equality

When does Reconstruction end?

It ends with the controversial election of 1876.

How do you think Jim Crow laws affected black Americans psychologically?

It mostly affected black children. They had to grow up being separated from their friends, they got special treatment but not the good kind, everything of theirs was less sanitary than one of a white persons. They had to grow up with practically mental abuse. Some people never got over it, and those who did, still had horrible memories of their childhood.

According the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. The Board of Education, why is segregation so harmful to people? In your answer, include at least one brief quote from the Supreme Court's decision and then explain the meaning of this quote in your own words.

It's so harmful because it affects the mental health of children of of color. It gives them trauma that can scar them for their entire life. The Supreme Court states, "To separate [black children] ... solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone." This quote is saying that black children feel inferior to white children and this has and would go on for generations.

What were the Jim Crow laws? How long did they last?

Legal segregation (legal + enforced separation of the races that lasts 80 years ish)

Define: Disenfranchisement

Losing one's right to vote (despite the 15th Amendment)

Why was Homer Plessy on trial?

Louisiana law says separate train cars for blacks + whites. Homer Plessy is ⅞ white + ⅛ black, according to Louisiana law, he is black. Homer Plessy violates Louisiana separate car law (Jim Crow law) ON PURPOSE.

Define: Popular Votes

Number of people who voted.

Why did Homer Plessy deliberately break the Jim Crow law?

Plessy wants to challenge the law. He wants to sue Louisiana. Plessy argues the Louisiana law is illegal because it violates the Constitution. Plessy wants the Supreme Court to hear the case because he is confident the Louisiana law is illegal. Supreme Court rulings set precedents (sets guidelines for all laws for the nation) *****The precedent would be if this Jim Crow law is illegal, then all Jim Crow laws are illegal*****

According to the ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson why is segregation acceptable? In your answer, include at least one brief quote from the Supreme Court's decision and then explain the meaning of this quote in your own words.

Segregation is acceptable because even though it's separated, it has equal facilities. The Supreme Court states, "The object of the [Fourteenth] amendment was undoubtedly to enforce ... equality of the two races before the law, but ... it could not have been intended to enforce social ... equality, or a commingling of the two races." The Supreme Court is saying that they can't do anything because everyone is getting legal quality, but not social equality.

In Brown v. The Board of Education what do the justices say about separate schools for blacks and whites? Why are such facilities unequal?

Separate schools deny black children equal protection of the the law which violates the Fourteenth Amendment. Such facilities are so unequal because they are getting unequal treatment and it harms black childrens' mental health.

Why can't Reconstruction be enforced forever?

Soldiers want to return home, Is this a case of the government "invading" it's own states?, Is that even constitutional?, It's expensive, Military may be needed elsewhere, Southerners don't want the military in the South, **people lose interest in Recon.**

1876 Election: What compromised isn reached in the House (South + North)?

South "loses" its preferred candidate, Tilden, the Democrat South "wins" a formal end to Recon., no more Union troops in the south North "wins" its preferred candidate, Hayes, the Republican North "loses" Recon because it withdraws all troops from the south and no one is back to enforce equality for black Americans

Who won the Civil War and what do they need to do?

The North won the war but after CW, it needs to win the peace (win over the hearts and minds of southerners).

What did the Supreme Court decide in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson? Why was this ruling so harm to black Americans?

The Supreme Court decided to rule in favor of the Jim Crow laws in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. This ruling was so harmful to black Americans because it meant that they had to continue their lives as being separate from white people. White people always got the better offer, rather than people of color.

How does the North enforce Reconstruction?

The Union Army is stationed in the South + the army enforces Recon (10 years ish).

After the Civil War ends, what challenges do the nation face? Reconstruction must address all these issues.

The nation needs to unite socially, southern economy needs to be rebuilt, president was just assassinated, regaining trust (south to north), what do freed slaves do?, racism

Define: Electoral Votes

The number of state electors who voted (369 total electoral votes).

What are 6 examples of the Jim Crow segregation laws in the South?

There were separate schools, separate train cars, separate railroad cars, separate eating places, separate hospitals, and separate churches.

The Plessy ruling states the Fourteenth Amendment is intended to enforce "equality of the two races before the law, but . . . not . . . intended to enforce social . . . equality." What is the difference between "equality before the law" and "social equality"? Is this a reasonable argument by the Supreme Court? Explain.

This was a reasonable arguement. "Equality before the law" is making sure that they both have hospitals, churches, rail cars, trains, etc. Social equality is the options of the people. It unreasonable to make them talk to each other and like each other.

What were the goals of Reconstruction and do they achieve these goals?

To win the peace - integration south into the union, ensure south accepts the new laws // racial harmony. Reconstruction does not achieve it's goals.

What happened after the 1876 Election?

With no one in the South to enforce equality, racist southerners regain power New racist laws and policies in the South last from 1880s - 1960s.

What do you need to win an election? (Hint: It has to do with votes.)

You need a majority of electoral votes to win.